Cigar lighter



6 8 7 9 1 m mm Al LL -VR Fm I 0 Jan. 1, 1929.

Filed Feb. 24, 1927 fin/2271171". Fi i's QFl 5275705 Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

UNITED STATES ALFRED F. LANGOS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CIGAR LIGHTER.

Application filed February 24, 1927. Serial No. 170,499.

My invention relates to cigar lighters and has to do more particularly with electrically I heated cigar lighters of the character adapted for lighting cigars and cigarettes, although not limited to this particular use.

An object of my invention is to provide a so-called wirtless cigar lighter, that is, one in which the lighting element is supported in a'base of some kind and adapted to be heated while held in the base and then removed from the base for use, the base and lighting element being entirely independent when separated, that is, with no electrical or mechanical connection between the parts. Another feature of my invention is the provision of such a device in which the lightmg element is normally electrically disconnected from the heating circuit but may be manually manipulated to momentarily close the heating circuit, after which the device may be removed for use.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of an improved form of resistance or heating element in the form of a double spiral having freely extending ends by which the element may be supported. Other features and advantages of my invention will be more particularly pointed out in the ensuing portion of the specification and appended claims.

For a better understanding of my invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a. side elevation of the assembled device;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of Fig. 1;

ig. 4 is a transverse sectional view along the line, H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view of the lighting 'element in its manipulated or separated posit-ion whereby its heating circuit is closed; and i Fig. 6 is a plan view of the resistance'or heating element before being placed in the supporting plug.

Referring now more in detail to the invention as illustrated, I provide a suitable base or supporting member A in the form of a socket adapted to receive the heating element plug B which is adapted to be inserted in an opening in the top of the socket. The base A is constructed to support suitable current supply terminals to which the electrical conductors are to be secured, and in the present instance I provide an insulating support for the terminals in the form of a fibre disk 7 secured to the base A by three rivets 8, which rivets also act to hold corresponding springs 9. As to the terminals, I provide one terminal plate 10 which is riveted to the fibre disk 7 and has a conductor clamping screw 11 threaded therein. This terminal plate 10 also has a central contact screw threaded into the plate 10 so as to provide adjustment, this screw having a suitable contact end preferably in the form of a platinum tip adapted for contact with the plug, as will be later described. A second terminal member 18 in the form of a metal plate is riveted to the base by the same rivets 8 that secure two of the springs 9, thus this plate 13 is electrically connected with these springs 9 and with the base-A so that they all are in common electrical connection and may act as the socalled ground terminal of the device. That is, if the base-A is secured directly to a grounded portion of the can-that is, for instance, the metal instrument plate, the springs 9 are thus adapted to carry this grounded connection to the plug and thusact as one conductor of the circuit, as will more clearly appear. This plate 13 has a central clampmg screw 14 so that a conductor may be secured thereto if desired. A mica sheet 15 is interposed between the fibre disk 7 and the base A, thereby acting to insulatethe end of the rivet 16 by which the terminal plate 10 is fastened to the disk 7 so as to prevent accidental contact between this element and the plug.

Now as to lighting element B, this is in the form of a plug shaped device comprising a metal casing 17 having a flange 18 to which an insulating ring 19 is secured by which the device may be manipulated by the operator and thus avoid placing the hands in contact with any electrically charged element. This ring 19 is secured to the plug sleeve 17 by rivets 20 which also pass through an upper clamping plate 2].. Within the plug casing 17 is a suitable resistance element supporting member in. the form of a porcelain plug 22 cupped at its upper end to receive the resistance or lighting element C. This element C is preferably made up in a self-sustaining shape and to this end is formed up of a continuous wire resistance comprising two spirals, the turns of one being interposed between the turns of the other and connected together at their inner ends, the outer ends 2324 extending freely to provide supporting or attaching means therefor. I preferably make this resistance element of wire sufiiciently resistance 5 In order'to support this resistance element C I use the said freely extending ends thereof for this purpose and also to act as conductors to the element and therefore the end 23 is inserted between the plug shell 17 and the 10 clamping plate 21. Thus the heating element is supported by the end and also in electrical contact with the sleeve 17 which acts as an electrical conductor to the device, as will presently appear. The free end 24 of the element extends downwardly through a passage in the porcelain plug 22 and then to the center of thedevice where it is secured to a contact plate 25 carrying a platinum contact element for engagement with the cooperating contact 12 when the plug is depressed in the base socket. This brass plate 25 is held in the plug byhaving .its outstanding ends interposed between the sheet of mica 26 which lies between the end of the shell 17 and the porcelain plug 22. The shell 17 has an annular groove 27 :which receives the bent-in portion ofthe retaining springs 9 so as to yieldingly or readily removably hold the plug in the socket. These elein inoperative position, that is, with the electrical circuit therefor interrupted because of the non-engagement of contacts 12-25. In ,Order to close this heating circuit the plug B is manipulated by pressing it inwardly intoupon the plug B is released these springs pressing inwardly will force the plug B back into its normal position to interrupt the heatm circuit.

Referring now to the operation ofthe device and assuming that an electrical heating circuit has been connected to the base terminal plates 10-13, in order to heat the lighting element the operator grasps the insulating ring 19 of the plug and presses the plug inwardly against the tension of springs 9 until the contacts 12-25 are closed. In the ordinary device as I have used it on six volts, which is the usual voltage on an automobile,

the lightingelement G becomes sufiiciently in-' candescent in about three seconds that the plug retains enough heat so that it may be passed around to light three or four cigarettes or cigars. Thus, assuming the plug has been depressed until the resistance element becomes incandescent as stated, the plug is then withdrawn entirely from the base ments-927 are so related that when the plug is inserted in the socket it is normally heldand is thus independent of any mechanical or electrical connection with the base and may be freely passed to the occupants of the car or wherever it is used. After being used the plug is replaced in the socket and is held by the springs 9 in such a position that the lighting circuit is normally interrupted. When the device is to be used again the plug is sim ply depressed until sufficiently heated and then withdrawn for use.

Although for the purpose of illustration I have shown a preferred form of my invention, I contemplate constructing it and using it in other ways than herein illustrated and described and therefore do not desire to be limited to the exact structure shown but aim to cover all that which comes within the spirit and scope of the appended claims;

What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. An electrically heated lighting element of the character described comprising a resistance element shaped in the formof two spirals the turns of one being interposed.

between the turns of the other and connected together at their inner ends with the outer ends freely extending for supporting the element and the spirals being all in substantially the same plane.

2. A wireless electrically heated .cigar.

lighter including a current supply terminal carrying base and a cigar lighting element independent of any permanentwiringinterconnection, means for rea ily removably holding the lighting element in 'the base so as to permit removal of the element for use, and, means for momentarily connecting an operating circuit for the element to heat the latter before removal from the base for use,

said holding means including a yieldingholding spring mounted to serve as an electrical connection between the base and lighting element. A

3. An electrically heated cigar lighter comprising a sulating disc across the shell and having a contact at the center thereof, a plurality of spring contacts secured to the base with a center portion bellied toward the center of the shell, a plug heating element adapted to be inserted in the base shell and comprising a plug shell with an annular groove which the bellied portion of the spring contactsengage, a center contact extending through a central opening in the plug shell, and a heating element having one terminal connected to the plug shell, and the other teminal connected to said center contact,

the center contacts on the shell and insulating disc being normally separated, with the spring contacts engaging in said annular groove, but the plug being movable bodily inwardly in response to manual pressure temporarily to. close the circuit and energize the element, the plug being removable entirely base in the form of a shell, an in-- from the base shell heated.

4. The cigar lighter defined in claim 3 wherein said plug shell has an insulating plug center with the lighting element spaced from the insulating plug center and supported by its terminals, one of said terminals being secured to the plug center and the other terminal extending through a passage in said insulating center to engage said center contact.

- 5. The cigar lighter defined in claim 3 wherein said base shell is flanged to serve as a stop for said spring contacts, so that ample tension may be had therein without permitting too great inward movement when the plug is removed such as would make reinsertion of the plug diificult.

6. The cigar lighter defined in claim 3 when the element is wherein said plug shell is flanged and has a, heat insulating ring riveted thereto forgrasping the plug with the fingers, the riveting of the ring serving: to secure the heat element terminal in contact with sald plug shell.

7 An electrically heated cigar lighter including two principal members in the 'Form of a base and a cigar lighting plug, said plug containing an electric heatmg element, re-

.minal and a movable from the base when the element has been heated, a center terminal on both the base and plug, resilient means normall holding said center terminals separate and separate circularly disposed terminal means on one of the members with a cooperating terminal on the other member adapted to form contact at any radial position of the plug so that said plug may be inserted into the base at any position and electrical contact established with the base through the terminal by simple inward pressure only of the entire plug body.

8. In an electric cigar lighter a base having a socket with a central terminal and spring contacts at the side, at least one of which is adapted to serve as a second terplug having an outer shell, a heating element with one lead connected to the shell and central terminal connected to the other element lead, said spring contacts normally holding the two center terminals separated and bodily inward movement only of the plug serving to bring said terminals together.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of February, 1927. ALFRED F. LANGOS. 

